Magical ? Not so much.

[mshanson3121]

Food prices are just as high at our area theme park, amusement parks, zoos, museums, ball parks, concerts, etc. I never understand why there is always such a complaint about Disney food prices in that respect.

FWIW, the $105 a day ticket I also happen to think is pretty great in comparison to other forms of entertainment. I actually flew to Disney in October for a 1 night stay and a ticket to MVMCP for the same price I spent on a concert ticket for a 2 hour show earlier that month. I always feel like I get way more for my money at Disney.

You know... that's a really good point. I too, thought $105 for a one day ticket is nuts. But... I never thought of it this way. Tickets to any sporting event or a good concert will pretty much cost you that, for what 3 hours of entertainment, compared to 15 hours (when we were there this summer) of Disney. And the food at the concession stands will cost you EVERY bit as much, and sometimes more than what you'll pay in Disney. Parking costs about the same as well. Heck, even our local county carnival is $40 per person, and that's for a handful of rides in a DIRTY setting that doesn't even REMOTELY come close to comparing to Disney, and has nothing for entertainment.

 

[lugnut33]

Food prices are just as high at our area theme park, amusement parks, zoos, museums, ball parks, concerts, etc. I never understand why there is always such a complaint about Disney food prices in that respect.

FWIW, the $105 a day ticket I also happen to think is pretty great in comparison to other forms of entertainment. I actually flew to Disney in October for a 1 night stay and a ticket to MNSSHP for the same price I spent on a concert ticket for a 2 hour show earlier that month. I always feel like I get way more for my money at Disney.

I agree with your statements.
For the food we pretty much cut out table service restaurants due to the cost. We definitely steer clear of the buffets as those are extremely overpriced.
As for the value I feel like it's still there, but when compared to what I got for my vacation dollars just 6 years ago I don't feel like it's that great of a value.

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

OP, I agree. It sort of defies logic to think that you would actually reserve ride times ahead of a trip to an amusement park. I'm not sure why anyone would expect you to anticipate that. I do feel bad for the thousands of guests that come through the gates every day with no idea they are already behind for the day and that fastpasses for one or more attractions might already be gone before rope drop ever took place.

There are a percentage of FPs reserved for same day guests. This is outside of the 'sold out' for those who book in advance. I'm not going to say how much the percentage is, just that it is fairly substantial. It is more fair than you might think.

 

[mom2rtk]

There are a percentage of FPs reserved for same day guests. This is outside of the 'sold out' for those who book in advance. I'm not going to say how much the percentage is, just that it is fairly substantial. It is more fair than you might think.

If there is, it's one of the best kept secrets on the boards.

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

If there is, it's one of the best kept secrets on the boards.

This isn't a 'board' rumor or secret. There isn't an 'if' about it. It's solid truth from someone who knows. I'll leave it at that.

 

[Isildur's Bane]

There are a percentage of FPs reserved for same day guests. This is outside of the 'sold out' for those who book in advance. I'm not going to say how much the percentage is, just that it is fairly substantial. It is more fair than you might think.

there is? i never heard that before

i see where your coming from op, you don't need to listen to all the frogs still in the pot. they like the warm water until......

 

[nkereina]

Or is the answer simply that going to Disney without researching the heck out of the visit .... ie: deciding to go because it's a sunny day just a stupid thing to do ?

Going to a Six Flags spur of the moment because it's a nice day is one thing. But when you're going to a major tourist destination, spending upwards of $100 a person just to step foot in the gates, it boggles the mind why someone wouldn't at least do a quick google to see exactly what they're getting into. I have no sympathy for those who are naïve enough to think they can wing a Disney park and still get the most out of their day. It would be one thing if they chose to wing it and were satisfied with however the day turned out, but the ones who wing it and then complain about it are just contradicting themselves.

 

[mom2rtk]

This isn't a 'board' rumor or secret. There isn't an 'if' about it. It's solid truth from someone who knows. I'll leave it at that.

I'll believe it when I start hearing multiple reports of people picking up hard to score FPs day of.

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

I'll believe it when I start hearing multiple reports of people picking up hard to score FPs day of.

I got TSMM on Sunday morning for that afternoon, this was with all the high crowds this weekend, and it was more than one FP. A few weeks ago, we were at AK and around 4pm, decided to see what was available for the next few hours from the phone, and got 7DMT, SM and BTMRR. I do it all the time if I can't get what I want in advance. I easily pick up Soarin or TT. But I honestly don't really care if you doubt me or not. I'm just trying to let OP and others know that when they come to the window that morning and don't know about FP+, they still have a shot at some...especially if they get on it...

 

[Baklava]

You know... that's a really good point. I too, thought $105 for a one day ticket is nuts. But... I never thought of it this way. Tickets to any sporting event or a good concert will pretty much cost you that, for what 3 hours of entertainment, compared to 15 hours (when we were there this summer) of Disney. And the food at the concession stands will cost you EVERY bit as much, and sometimes more than what you'll pay in Disney. Parking costs about the same as well. Heck, even our local county carnival is $40 per person, and that's for a handful of rides in a DIRTY setting that doesn't even REMOTELY come close to comparing to Disney, and has nothing for entertainment.

Nosebleed seats for Taylor Swift were over $100 a piece. She gave one of the best production values I've ever seen for that, but it lasted 2 hours and then we were done. Parking was $30. We shall not discuss "dirty" as compared to Disney.

 

[Mambo Junkie]

I think the OP represents the average Disney visitor (who isn't staying onsite). People here and at other Disney chat sites are savvy, but the average person has no clue all of the things that the DISers do before going to WDW. I work with 14 other ladies, and I can honestly say that maybe one other person has an idea about pre planning. The rest simply don't know anything about this. When I start talking about MDE, FPs, ADRs etc, they are flabbergasted about the planning aerobics that goes into a trip. Probably 80 percent of my clients also fall into the average Disney visitor category.
I can truly sympathize with the OP because I'm from the legacy system and the "olden days" and I was quite dismayed a few years back (since the inception of free dining) about the overcrowding and lack of availability in both ADRs and low wait times for most attractions. I am still adjusting. I see the "need" to pre plan, but I'm not a planner, I'm a winger, so I'm trying for a balance. Last time I over planned, and we ended up either skipping or cancelling a lot of the plans.

 

[mom2rtk]

I got TSMM on Sunday morning for that afternoon, this was with all the high crowds this weekend, and it was more than one FP. A few weeks ago, we were at AK and around 4pm, decided to see what was available for the next few hours from the phone, and got 7DMT, SM and BTMRR. I do it all the time if I can't get what I want in advance. I easily pick up Soarin or TT. But I honestly don't really care if you doubt me or not. I'm just trying to let OP and others know that when they come to the window that morning and don't know about FP+, they still have a shot at some...especially if they get on it...

I don't doubt you have done what you said. But there's no way to know if they hold back for day of or if you caught what someone else released when they changed parks for the day.

I just happen to believe that it would be replicated (and reported here) many times over if Disney was holding back anything of note to distribute day of.

YMMV.

 

[Baklava]

This isn't a 'board' rumor or secret. There isn't an 'if' about it. It's solid truth from someone who knows. I'll leave it at that.

One anonymous person on the internet says it is true and provides no back up source. True or not, that's pretty much the textbook definition of "rumor." Some rumors turn out to be true. As long as it's just one person playing, "I know what I know and you'll just have to trust me," it's still a rumor. There's a lot of "if" involved in single party, unsubstantiated claims that diverge wildly from the standard experience.

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

I don't doubt you have done what you said. But there's no way to know if they hold back for day of or if you caught what someone else released when they changed parks for the day.

I just happen to believe that it would be replicated (and reported here) many times over if Disney was holding back anything of note to distribute day of.

YMMV.

Yeah, there is a way to know, as I already said. I'm going to politely end this conversation.

 

[Isildur's Bane]

Yeah, there is a way to know, as I already said. I'm going to politely end this conversation.

then its aparently a secret lol

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

then its aparently a secret lol

( But not a "board" or forum secret. As if it started there. Nothing to do with online anything. )

 

[Angel Ariel]

Personally, I'd think that visiting ANY theme park (or any significant tourist attraction) without doing some level of research is a poor decision. We made a trip this year to a theme park here in the UK that I'd visited approximately 3/4 years before, and I spent a couple of hours trawling their website for updates and info before we picked a date. That's a run of the mill theme park, not somewhere that is a huge tourist destination like WDW, but it meant there was no surprises when we arrived. We knew what was new, we knew what was out of action, and we made ourselves familiar with the details and cost of their FP equivalent system (which is all paid for, not included) before deciding whether or not to make use of it.

There's a theme park about 2 hrs from us. I wouldn't hesitate to go to it on a whim. I wouldn't expect no waiting for anything, of xourse, but I wouldn't feel a need to research it before we go.

We have taken dd to dutch wonderland in PA before, again no research prior, nor was any necessary.

I've gone to NYC without preplanning anything at all. We've bought Broadway show tickets day of before, with no issue.

I can absolutely understand why one would not think they needed to research disney world for an 8 *hour* visit if they have been there before.

Sounds like this OP had not heard anything about fp+ prior to the trip, didn't need tickets, stayed offsite, and so didn't receive information from Disney prior to arrival. Had one not ever seen the fp+ commercials they'd have no reason to think or know that there was something new to research for an 8 hour long visit. Just an unfortunate perfect storm of circumstances for thE OP.

Op, I'm sorry you had the experience you did. Thank you for sharing in the hopes to help others. I hope your next trip to WDW goes more smoothly!

 

[Kingslayer]

Tickets to any sporting event or a good concert will pretty much cost you that, for what 3 hours of entertainment, compared to 15 hours (when we were there this summer) of Disney.

That's a bit misleading. While there are high-dollar tickets to sporting events and concerts, I can just as easily find them for <$20/ticket too. The base ticket price of a Disney park is the cheapest you will find.

 

[caroline1851]

I'm sorry you had a less than awesome trip. That really sucks. DS 13 and I went in June and some things were fantastic (CM's, cleanliness, ride experience, quick bus transportation, magic band ease) but other things that were not (need to plan excessively in order to not wait in lines, crappy hotel (All Star Sports) and over-priced, way below sub par food) are things that would prevent us from going to Disney every year or every other or even every 3rd year. Well, and the fact that there are so many places in our country to see and experience rather than do the same vacation over and over again. DS said he doesn't think he ever needs to go back even though overall, we had a fantastic time. And btw, DD9 didn't even go with us because she had no interest.

But I think some of the negatives are the negatives at many other amusement parks. We have season passes to our local Six Flags and we would never consider going on a Saturday or Sunday; it's always on a Tuesday or Wednesday and when the weather is questionable or else the lines are ridiculous and you can't ride any of the top attractions with less than a 90 min wait. So even though there is no free fast pass type option there, we have to arrive early, rush to top attractions, get to water park early and leave water park by 2pm when the mobs of people are coming in. And....the food is just as expensive as Disney and maybe even worse. ugh.

Oh and btw, I agree the kiosks were not easy. We needed to go to them to get our 4th etc fp+ and they were not easy to find, the lines were long and the CM's mostly were not too interested in helping. overall everywhere else I found the cm's to be awesome, but not at the kiosks. Def should be able to add 4th fp+ on your phone instead of the stupid machines.

 

[loves to dive]

LOL

I did not expect you Disney folks to agree with me or even be a little sympathetic.
My goal was to to relate to you - and perhaps a newbie to the site - what a non Disneyite experienced a week ago tomorrow at MK.

I understand it's December, but I would not of figured that a weekday before any of the schools in the US are out for Christmas break to be crowded.
Boy, I was wrong !

If and when I do return - and I suppose I have to because there is no way to sell the remaining 3 days I have - I will research the crap out of my visit.
But, I again want to make the point that it is amusement park, and in my humble opinion, you should not have to plan a visit to it like the D Day invasion.
I normally am a huge planner, but my wife asked me to just "go with the flow" and not overthink this visit.
We both wanted to see 8 attractions - one an hour we figured when you factor in eats and bathroom breaks.

I do have photos showing instances where we found the park to be just plain dirty, if anyone cares to see them.

I also think that by just saying that the food prices are "just the way it is" we are condoning them - and they will only go higher.
We all know that a hot dog and a Diet Coke should not cost over $10 - don't we ?
Or is that hot dog and Diet Coke OK to be priced ridiculously high because its Disney ?
If you think that is OK, then I hope you enjoyed the Disney kool aid also. =)

Have a great holiday season folks !
I want to wish you all a prosperous and healthy 2016.

I've been going for over 30 years so I get part of what you are saying. The parks may not be as spotless as they were before, but I'm thinking it's more crowded and just impossible to keep up with that. Some CM's aren't as friendly as they used to be, that has been mentioned more than once on these boards and on the podcasts. Again, crowds and possibly hiring younger people account for that. As for the food costs, I live in a college town and I can not go to a local run restaurant and get a hot dog and coke for less than $10 (yes I can do that at Krystals but the hot dog is the size of my pinky). As far as FP+, I'm one of the ones who likes it. I never liked the old FP system of having to rush to the ride and get a FP only to have them all gone. Having said that, we rarely use more than one or two when we go, the advantage of having been going for so long, you remember the days when you had no choice but to stand in line and we stood in lines up to a hour, even way back in the 80s. So, standing in line for 1/2 hour or even 45 min. is no biggy for us. We are not planners, as I said we rarely use more than 1 or 2 FP and we don't usually book those until the night before and I'm often on my phone changing those around while we are in the parks. We don't make ADRs in advance, we just go to GS on the morning of and book for that night. It would be hard for a person who has never been there to get all the little nuances, agreed. Should you have to research? That's subjective. Like others I don't even go to local fairs without researching, where should I park, is there going to be food there, what is the price to get in, can I take my dog, etc.